An appeal has gone out to find volunteers to help with one last push in a bid to beat COVID as the lockdown takes hold and vaccines are rolled out.
The Torbay Community Helpline is again looking for people to help with shopping, befriending, and prescription collections as well as to help marshall people arriving at the vaccination centre.
Vaccinations for extremely vulnerable, referred by their doctors, have been taking place at the Riviera Centre in Torquay.
Because the vaccines from Pfizer have to be kept in strictly controlled temperature conditions, they will only be administered at the RICC; they cannot be done in people’s homes.
The Helpline has been asked to help with the logistics of what is potentially a considerable operation at the Riviera Centre, which serves all parts of the Bay.
St John Ambulance staff are also helping administer the vaccinations, but more volunteers are needed to help marshall people in and out as well as provide support services, particularly for those who are nervous.
“The latest lockdown has seen a surge in calls to the Helpline for people, particularly those that are shielding, in need of help and we once again need our fantastic volunteers to step up,” said a spokesperson for the Helpline.
“We are also aware that help is needed at the Riviera Centre as the scale of vaccinations is ramping up from this week”
“It is going to be a complex operation, but we know that there are lots of volunteers out there willing to help and so we will get this done.
“We might well need to able to drive those without their own transport to the Riviera Centre and we will need people to help them whilst they are there, particularly chaperoning those that are nervous,” said a Helpline spokesperson
“For now, these vaccines are just for the extremely vulnerable and everyone eligible is being contacted by their doctors, so please do not just turn up,” they added.
If you can help with either vaccinations or with the Helpline please contact the Torbay Community Helpline on 01803 446022, from 10 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday and Saturday’s 09.30 am to 12.30 pm.
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